*tear*

My baby is growing up :(

Puppy Max is now 10 months old. And today, I scheduled his appointment to become a man. Wait, maybe that's not right. Anyway, he's getting neutered next week.

Let's take a look at how Max has become a mandog:

As a baby, Max slept with his stuffed animals.



And needed to wear sweaters for warmth.



And of course, he fit in a shoe.


Now, Max likes to listen to music.


He helps pay bills around the house, stamping the envelopes for us.



He helps with the chores, like folding laundry.


Corresponds via email.


And gives his own tribute to deceased pop idols.


Yeah, he's a cool cat. Er, dog.

Bugs...A hate story.

Bugs. They're ugly. And crawly. And creepy.

Don't get me wrong - I enjoy neat bugs. I enjoy them at the zoo. Behind glass cases.

When we moved to Kentucky last summer, I suppose it was just too late in the summer (mid-August) for the bugs to...bug me. Because over the past month, I've had a few too many run-ins with bugs.

This little guy seems harmless. My friends in the Entymology Department at UK (website) confirm this. But he's scary. He's scary when he shows up on the wall. He's scary when Max chases him. He's also scary when he shows up IN THE SHOWER. I'm sure Max & J were both wondering what the heck was going on when I dripped all over the bathroom screaming (yes, now you're thinking about me in the shower).

I also had the scariest encounter I've ever had with ants a few nights ago. It was late (those of you who know me know my nocturnal hours) and I took Max out for a bathroom break before bed. I was outside a total of 45 seconds. When I walked back into the apartment, I felt something on my foot. I looked down and I had about 50 ants crawling on my ankles and feet. Of course, I screamed, shook, stomped, and slapped the crap out of my legs. J thought I was on fire. I still have no idea how that happened.

My last negative encounter with bugs came when I went to refill Max's food bowl and noticed a trail of tiny ants. Yes, I realize ants are generally tiny. But these were super tiny. Maybe baby ants like puppy food? So of course, I had to wash down the area (tip: vinegar worked!) and move Max's dining room to the other side of the kitchen.

When did I become so squeamish about insects? I used to pride myself on being the girl who would bravely grab that crawler and place it outside. Or, walk over and stomp that cockroach with a flimsy flipflop.

Every time I scream, a little piece of my tomboy childhood dies. Every time I call for my husband, a little piece of my feminist, independent spirit dies.

But this story has a happy ending. Earlier this week, I was driving to school and noticed that a spider had built a little web from my rearview mirror to my driver side door. Spidey was quickly trying to make it back to the little gap between the mirror and the plastic doohicky that surrounds the mirror. I found myself picturing Spidey as Charlotte, desperate to save herself and her eggs as the 40 mph winds whipped by. So I slowed down. And Charlotte made it back into her cave. EB White saved your life bug. Now make a web that says, "MERCIFUL" and dedicate it to me.

Who could have thought that I could spend this much time writing a boring post about bugs?

Introducing.....us.

This is me. I'm what I call a forever student - in actuality, I'm just working on my doctorate in communication studies. I was raised in a rural area in Illinois but moved away for college and different opportunities.



J, my husband. J is...self-employed currently. He quit his job to move with me - I'm forever grateful for that. He was raised in Illinois as well.

J and I met our first weekend at college. I had met some of his friends in the dorm. Later that evening, we ended up going to "this guy's apartment" (which ended up being J's best friend & roommate). We kindasortanotreally dated all freshman year and by the time that summer was up, we returned sophomore year and started dating.


And Max, our Westiepoo. Max is about 9 months old. He enjoys sleeping on the fuzzy blanket, playing tug of war, and barking at the birds.



Our families:

My parents, brother, and sister-in-law. My dad is a retired from teaching and still pastors a small church. My mom teaches 3rd grade. My brother is in finance and my SIL is in nursing school.



J's mom and brother. J's mom is a nurse and his brother is in college.




J's dad, stepmom, and stepsis. J's dad works for the city water company and his stepmom works in insurance.

His stepsis works in community health. I stole this picture from her - shhhhh!



I'm sure there will be many more players, but this will get us started.